Sometimes there are questions and comments that can't be easily assigned a category and simply don't fit in our other topics. This topic is for general questions and discussions about Marie Antoinette.

She was born a princess and archduchess, the 15th daughter of Maria Teresa, Empress of Austria. The Hapsburg house of Austria was the oldest royal house of Europe, and the young princess enjoyed the relaxed environment of the Schonbrünn Palace and the indulgence of tutors her parents, brothers and sisters.

In this part of the forum we welcome discussion, questions and thoughts on Marie Antoinette's youth and upbringing at the Austrian court.

The life of Marie Antoinette was the stuff of dreams when she was married at age 14 to the crown prince of France, the dauphin. France was then the most powerful nation of continental Europe, and the royal palace at Versailles the most opulent. The young princess could hardly have hoped for a more prestigious marriage and her magnificent marriage ceremony in 1770 was unmatched in royal pageantry.

This forum is for discussion of Marie Antoinette's early life in France as a young wife and the Dauphine of France.

In 1774 a young Louis and Antoinette became the King and Queen of France. This forum focuses on the events during their reign, from the the perceived extravagance of her early life and the scandal of the affair of the necklace to her growth and maturity as a wife and mother, this period marks one of significant change both personally for Antoinette and politically and socially for France. All comments, questions and debate are welcome!

On October 1 1789, a great banquet for the royal guards was held at Versailles, where royal and Austrian banners were cheered and toasts made to king and queen in attendance while the tricolour cockade of the French people was trod under foot. Tales of the banquet and “orgies” spread to the Paris slums where a new bread shortage was looming.

Parisians said enough is enough and on October 4, a great mob collected to demand bread from the king. The next day the mob mainly of Parisian women marched thought the driving rain to Versailles to put an end to orgies and demand bread. Many brandished knives and swore to use them to “cut the pretty throat of the Austrian” who was the source of all their problems. “How glad I’d be to put this blade into her belly up to my elbow.” Others vowed to cut different “pieces of Antoinette”. The Queen escaped with her life, but the mob was not satisfied. They later demanded that king and queen appear on the balcony before them and then that the monarchs return with them to Paris. And so, Louis and Marie left Versailles to be installed in the dusty unused Tuileries palace in Paris.

The forum is for the discussion of the closing years of the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and their eventual deaths at hands of the Revolution.

For discussion of fashion in the time of Marie Antoinette - clothing, footwear, cosmetics, hairstyles and wigs, jewelery and all things related to fashion and beauty. If you can wear it you can talk about it here!